Tag: living

Increasing your home’s property value doesn’t necessarily mean that the end goal is to sell your house, but if it is, then you may find that it isn’t as easy as simply renovating your rooms and extending your living spaces. It may well be the most difficult thing you’ll have to do as a homeowner.

The difficulty stems from how varied your options are, as well as what exactly would increase your property value and what’s better off ignored. Fortunately, you don’t necessarily have to spend an ungodly amount of money to increase your home’s property value.

Home Improvement on a Budget

Many property experts, such as Beehive Real Estate, note that before you start renovating your home, you need to determine first what your home’s current value is. This will give you an idea how much or how less you’ll actually have to spend on to improve your house.

Once you’ve determined where your house currently stands, consider your options carefully. The first thing you probably want to do is address any existing concerns your property has. Even something as simple as a leaky faucet or a messy garden can drastically decrease your home’s property value. Always remember: the less maintenance your potential buyer will have to do, the more valuable your property will be.

Now, apart from renovating, one smart way to improve your home’s property value is to try and find ways to cut your current energy consumption. It may not seem like much, but energy efficiency is an extremely marketable asset that will make your house more appealing to many buyers. Even something as simple as replacing your current light bulbs with greener variants can make a big difference.

Beyond the Home

A fresh coat of paint does wonders to your home, but don’t forget the other living spaces in your property. If you have a lawn or backyard, you might want to invest some time to re-landscape or simply do some general maintenance on it.

The house’s lawn and backyard are still technically part of your property after all, and you’ll find that even something as simple as trimming the hedges or taking care of an overgrown lawn can increase your home’s visual appeal.

Increasing your home’s property value doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have to do renovation. Even something as simple as making your house more energy efficient can increase your property value significantly. Make sure to plan ahead first though; you’ll want to know where your property’s at before you start your campaign to improve its value after all.

There are those who prefer having a small cat or dog, and treat the pets as children or best friends. You’d consider your pet’s needs when buying a new home. Here are a few pointers to consider when buying a new home with your pet in mind.

The Yard

Pet owners who plan to let their pet out should make sure there are no poisonous plants, hazardous debris or structures that can harm your pet in the Armstrong Creek houses for sale you’re visiting. Check for holes on the ground or gaps in the fences where your pet might fall or squeeze into. See if the yard is large enough for them or if you can assign a spot as their play area.

The Living Room

Your living room may be your pet’s most frequented spot in the house. See if the house you’re viewing has softwood or hardwood floors with a urethane finish, as these materials are perfect for small dogs and cats. If you prefer carpets, choose a house with carpeting that comes in a colour similar to the shade of your pet’s fur.

The Bedroom

As part of making the house pet-friendly, cabinets and shelves should not be in your pet’s line of sight, and closet doors should not be easily opened either. Make sure any electrical cords are hidden from sight or have been installed with proper covers.

The Entry/Hallway

Houses for sale that have pet doors should automatically get a plus. Check if there’s space in the entryway or hallway where you can set up your pet’s own outdoor gear along with yours. Right beside the spot where you plan to hang your coats and hats, see if you can install hooks and shelves at about their line of sight. Assign that area for their leashes, gear and outdoor toys.

When you go house viewing, let the real estate agent know about your needs, along with your pet’s requirements. Otherwise, you can choose a house that’s semi-furnished so you can put in the changes you want.

Living solo does not always mean you have to rent a room or a flat just so you can get by. The option of owning a start-up home or flat can be a better choice if you have the right opportunities. With the many houses for sale available on the market, you are bound to find the right property for you.

Here are a few important but simple pointers to keep in mind to make your property search easier and faster:

Check Eco-Friendly Options

As Westbrook Estate suggests, you need to make sure that your costs will not be too high. Considering you do not have a partner to split your domestic cost with, look for a home that has green. See if there are places where you can put a mini-garden or a personal composting kit. Check if the home has LED light fixtures.

Aim for properties with larger windows and recyclable materials for their construction. If you choose a furnished home, check if the appliances have eco-friendly functions and high energy-star ratings. For properties that have their own yard, check the abundance of flora and available space for a garden.

Maximising the Size

Just because the structure is small does not mean you should ignore it altogether. There are ingenious ways to maximise a small area. Use wall cabinets, holders, space-saving furnishings and multi-functional furniture. You may want to talk to your property consultant about making changes with the house, so you can accommodate your needs. When you live alone, size does not really matter that much, but making the most of it does.

Watch Your Wallet

Before you even look at property options, take a good look at your financial capacities in the past few months. This will give you a better picture of what homes you can afford and how you can cut costs. Discuss your budget with your real estate professional to determine which type of home works for you.

Solitary living provides you the freedom to do what you want in your own space. Be a smart homebuyer, so you can fully enjoy the merits of living solo.

In Australia, the median house price is almost $600,000, while a granny flat may cost $100,000. When you want something more affordable, how about a container home for only $42,000, including transportation and installation expenses?

Unconventional housing

Conventional buildings are still the norm in the major Australian cities. But you can consider a converted shipping container if you live in a remote area where it’s not as complicated to get a permit for a less conventional home. Shipping containers have been in use in the trade and transportation industries since the mid-1950s. Now, these steel boxes are equally important in the housing industry.

It takes an average of three days to set up the entire structure. Container homes are not only affordable; they are also comfortable. Grandesigns WA, a manufacturer of affordable homes in Perth, says homes out of modules utilise the limited space while still giving residents enough room to move around. People who live in environment-friendly container homes can attest to their economy and comfort.

Are shipping containers liveable?

Unused containers are converted into residences and guest houses. Builders have to restore and clean used containers thoroughly before converting them. Manufacturers say it is cheaper for them to work with unused containers because it costs more to straighten banged up steel walls, and remove odours and traces of potentially harmful chemicals.

Google ‘container home’ if you have no idea how the end product looks like. You might be surprised to find different designs, especially if you check container homes in Canada and the United States, where they became popular even before Australians started embracing the concept.

Because of the rising need for affordable homes, Perth residents are open to the option of living in a converted shipping container. It might seem like a bizarre concept, but there are qualified, skilled and creative builders in Australia who can help construct your dream pad from a steel box. Your creativity goes a long way in designing your home, as well.

There’s a continuing generalization that Generation Y, commonly known as Millennials, is increasingly becoming more independent and narcissistic. A feeling of entitlement often characterizes their way of thinking, and this reflects best in terms of where they want to live.

Most young adults who are part of this generation often move to big cities where they, presumably, want to carve their place in the wide world. Despite this, there’s an increasing prevalence of Millennials now moving back to the suburbs, and it isn’t their age that’s making them do this.

The Revival of Suburban Living

The idea that Millennials hate suburban living is actually an unfair generalization of a rather complex trend. While there’s no doubt that many detest living in a slow, often uneventful community, this is only true in their first few years of independence. Teenagers want to get away from it all, and they capitalize on their newfound freedom the minute they move out of their homes.

This general view of how Millennials think is limited at best, and it doesn’t take into account their aspirations for homeownership.

It’s surprising to think that the most independent generation of our time actually wants to settle down, but this is an undeniable truth. Gates Estates notes that the majority of the people who are starting to ‘move back’ into suburbs and gated communities aren’t retirees. They are actually people from Generation Y who are planning to settle down and start families of their own.

Different Opportunities

The reason for this change in trends and views about homeownership isn’t all about age, though. Although most companies and businesses are located in the big cities, these often encourage different kinds of housing options. This allows more Millennials to move back to the suburbs instead of renting out apartments.

Small businesses are also becoming more competitive, which means more job opportunities away from the increasingly congested environment in the city’s major business districts.

Looking at Millennials and their view on homeownership is an interesting study on the cyclical nature of every American generation. Only time can tell if Generation Y will continue this trend or break away from tradition and fully revitalize the idea of suburban living.